13 White-sided dolphins beach themselves in Wellfleet, Cape Cod

WELLFLEET -- In at least the seventh mass stranding on Cape Cod this winter, 13 dolphins beached themselves in Wellfleet yesterday afternoon, sending dozens of volunteers scrambling to try to rescue the animals, authorities said. Eight of the animals were dead or were euthanized after workers were unable to save them.

Officials believe the animals came into the bay looking for food and were disoriented by the tides, said Tony LaCasse, spokesman for the New England Aquarium.

Mass strandings have become frequent sightings along the shores of the Cape Cod Bay this winter, during which a total of 72 dolphins and 18 pilot whales were swept to shore and unable to return to the water independently.

Some of the animals died from the shock of being out of water, which gradually caused their organs to stop working. Most of the animals had to be euthanized because they became too ill from the shock to be returned to the ocean, LaCasse said.

LaCasse said he and other environmentalists have no idea why the animals are now coming to the shores in such numbers.

''It's what everyone wants to know, but we just don't know why," he said. ''We sometimes could go a whole winter with having only two or three strandings, but already we have had seven."

Aquarium officials received a call reporting the beached dolphins at about noon yesterday, LaCasse said. More than 30 volunteers rushed out in the cold to save the dolphins, which were beached in five different parts of Wellfleet Harbor, LaCasse said.

When the volunteers arrived, many of the dolphins were severely ill. Some of the dolphins had severe tissue damage around their eyes from being attacked by sea gulls, who, as predators, tend to peck at anything that moves, LaCasse said.

''It can be a very gruesome thing," he said.

The five remaining healthy dolphins, including a mother and her calf, were each placed on sturdy nylon litters, on which the 400-pound animals were carried by about nine volunteers 100 yards through the dunes to the access road where rescue vans were waiting, LaCasse said.

By 6 p.m. last night, the animals were placed in the vans, and officials drove them north along Route 6 to a suitable deep water release point, LaCasse said.

The dolphins were released into three-foot surf in Provincetown at about 8 p.m. Four of the dolphins headed out to sea, but one had to be pointed in the right direction after it began swimming along the shore instead of swimming to deeper water, LaCasse said.

Officials believe the animals will recover safely, said Katie Touhey, director of Cape Cod Stranding Network, which helped with the rescue. ''There is nothing like knowing that you might have actually saved some animals' lives," she said.

''You can compare this to a back-country rescue," LaCasse said. ''It takes time to find out where they are, organize the resources, and carry these animals out."

Throughout the rescue, the animals communicated with one another by making a clicking noise, LaCasse said.

''It was very heartwarming and a little heart-stopping," he said, ''You get the sense that they know you are trying to help them."

Of the 13 animals, 10 were common dolphins and three were white-sided dolphins, LaCasse said.

Mass strandings can occur when animals are injured or when they come on shore looking for prey, and become trapped by outgoing tides, LaCasse said.

Most of the strandings this winter occurred along the shores of Cape Cod Bay near Wellfleet, LaCasse said.

Last week, four dolphins died after they were stranded on Jan. 17. Ten dolphins were stranded Jan. 14, and five were rescued.

In the largest stranding this winter, 44 animals, including 18 pilot whales and 26 dolphins, died after they stranded themselves along the shores near Wellfleet after a fierce snowstorm on Dec. 10.

''It is very difficult for the animals to navigate through those waters," LaCasse said. ''They can make mistakes."

WELLFLEET, Mass. -- Eight of the 13 dolphins found stranded on Wellfleet beaches Friday either died or had to be euthanized. Officials hope five others will survive.

Tony LaCasse, of the New England Aquarium, said the five surviving dolphins were released Friday at Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown, where the water is deeper and it's easier for the mammals to make it to open ocean.

Of the 13 dolphins, 10 were common dolphins and three were whitesided dolphins.

Volunteers from the Cape Cod Stranding Network helped carry the animals, each weighing about 300 pounds, about a quarter of a mile to the nearest road, where they were loaded into trucks.

One of the animals was tagged so its movements can be tracked.

Stranded dolphins released into bay

PROVINCETOWN, Mass. More dolphin strandings late yesterday. But this time, there was a happy ending.

Five white-sided dolphins stranded on a sandbar in Provincetown late yesterday afternoon were gently released back into the bay by rescue teams.

The stranding capped three days of dolphin rescue efforts. Teams from the Cape Cod Stranding Network and New England Aquarium have responded to 26 dolphin strandings in the past several days.

Many of them have been released. But others died or were euthanized.

Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

WELLFLEET, MA, United States (UPI) -- Massachusetts wildlife officials say they have no idea why so many dolphins and whales have been stranded this winter on Cape Cod.

In the seventh mass stranding on Cape Cod Friday, 13 dolphins beached themselves in Wellfleet. Dozens of volunteers tried to rescue the animals, but eight of the dolphins were dead, or were euthanized, the Boston Globe reported Saturday.

So far this winter, mass stranding incidents at Cape Cod Bay have involved 72 dolphins and 18 pilot whales swept to shore and unable to return to the water independently.

It`s believed the mammals come into the bay looking for food and get disoriented by the tides, said Tony LaCasse, spokesman for the New England Aquarium.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International

Dire days for dolphinsBy JASON KOLNOSSTAFF WRITERDolphin strandings are at an all-time high in Cape Cod Bay for January and experts don't know why.

As of yesterday, 25 common and 14 white-sided dolphins had been found in four mass strandings, mostly on bay beaches from Barnstable to Provincetown. Sixteen others were stranded alone.

A mass stranding refers to two or more animals of the same species, except for a mother and her calf, which is considered a single unit.

The largest stranding this month was in Orleans, where 10 common dolphins washed up in Rock Harbor last weekend.

Yesterday, staff of the Cape Cod Stranding Network successfully released three healthy-looking common dolphins off Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown that had stranded in Wellfleet. They have saved eight dolphins so far this year.

No one knows why so many dolphins have stranded here so early in the winter, said Katie Touhey, director of the stranding network.

But scientists and volunteers are gathering data to solve the mystery. They take blood samples from carcasses to determine if parasites or bacteria were the killers. They perform exams to look for injuries, such as cuts from fishing nets.

''It's frustrating because there are no significant findings in most mass stranding necropsies other than the fact that the animals were involved in a mass stranding event,'' Touhey said.

Touhey listed three leading theories on the high number of dolphin strandings this month:

n Dolphins chasing prey into tidal areas usually frozen in January. Once inside the tidal labyrinths, many can't get out.

n The animals' internal sonar may be confused by recent changes in bottom contours of the sandbars in Cape Cod Bay.

n A sick dolphin may lead other pod members astray into the dangerously shallow flats. ''There is a unique social cohesion between dolphins,'' Touhey said.

Researchers performing necropsies sometimes find parasites in dolphins' ear canals that may affect navigation, said Sarah Bean, an animal care technician at the New England Aquarium in Boston. But, not always. ''There is frequently no smoking gun and that is disheartening,'' Bean said.

''But the data collected is invaluable for determining possible trends or external factors.''

All tissue and organ samples from the stranding network are sent to David Rotstein, a veterinary pathologist at the University of Tennessee, who is trying to build a central stranding database. Information from those on the scene also helps, he said.

''Teamwork is a huge factor,'' he said, ''because the information provided about weather patterns and water conditions from the volunteers may help us draw better conclusions.''

Friday, January 20, 2006

1 Northern Bottle-nosed Whale stranded in London, UK

A seven-tonne whale has made its way up the Thames to central London, where it is being watched by riverside crowds.The 16-18ft (5m) northern bottle-nosed whale, which is usually found in deep sea waters, has been seen as far upstream as Chelsea.

A rescue boat has been sent to protect the whale and rescuers have been trying to keep it away from the river banks.Specialist equipment, including inflatable tubes to re-direct the animal downstream, are being sent.

The whale has come within yards of the banks and has crashed into an empty boat causing slight bleeding.

The last thing we want to do is stress the animal outLiz SandemanMarine Connection

Vets are remaining on standby and experts have said it does not appear to be ill, but are concerned it will get weaker and may become beached.Tony Woodley, of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, which will be handling the rescue, said the animal's welfare was the main priority.He said if attempts to re-direct the whale downstream failed, it might be necessary to put it down to prevent from suffering further.

'Breathing normally'The RNLI say it is the first whale rescue on the Thames. A spokesman said three whales were spotted east of the Thames Barrier on Thursday but only one managed to get upstream.But at 0830 GMT on Friday, a man on a train called in to say he might have been hallucinating, but he had just seen a whale in the Thames.

Alison Shaw of the Marine and Freshwater Conservation Programme at London Zoo, said the northern bottle-nosed whale was usually found in groups of three to 10.She told the BBC News website: "This is extremely rare in British waters as they are normally found in deep waters in the North Atlantic.

"It is about 16-18ft long, so is relatively mature. It is a very long way from home and we don't know why it has ended up here."The whales usually weigh about seven tonnes, which will complicate any rescue attempt, experts said.

London Aquarium Curator Paul Hale told the BBC: "Getting that to do anything it doesn't want to do is going to be extremely difficult."This is a very active swimming animal and it's not going to go anywhere it doesn't want to go so we have to persuade it to swim back out."Liz Sandeman, a medic of the Marine Connection, a whale and dolphin protection charity, accompanied the RNLI to examine the animal.

She feared it might be in danger from other boats, or be frightened by the noise."The last thing we want to do is stress the animal out," she said.Over the years dolphins and seals have been spotted in the Thames.Sperm whales have been seen in the Thames Estuary and porpoises have feasted on fish near Vauxhall Bridge, in central London.

Rescuers are planning how to help a whale that has been swimming in the Thames as far west as Chelsea.The northern bottle-nosed whale, not seen in the Thames for almost 100 years, has floundered in shallow water and looked to be bleeding at times.

Experts said heavy-lifting equipment might be needed if the whale beached when the tide turned.However, they would give it a full health check before they decided whether to move it.

They have warned that it was likely to be ill as well as disorientated and may not survive the ordeal.

I am afraid I think people have got to prepare themselves that this animal may well not surviveMark SimmondsWhale and Dolphin Society

The Whale and Dolphin Society's Mark Simmonds said a rescue effort would be difficult."This is a very, very big whale to start manoeuvring around and lots of help and maybe even heavy lifting gear may be required."But they won't go to that point if they're not happy that the whale is healthy enough to be responded to in that way."He warned that the animal may die.

"The prognosis is poor for this animal and the chances are that it is wounded, or distressed, or sick."So I am afraid I think people have got to prepare themselves that this animal may well not survive.''

A flotilla of four boats has been around the whale during Friday to protect it from other shipping.Tony Woodley, from the British Divers Association, said he was concerned as the whale was a deep sea species not used to shallow water.The association had volunteers trained to deal with whale strandings and a rescue boat at the ready.Although he said the appearance of blood in the water might not be as serious as it looked, he also warned that the whale might not survive the ordeal.The animal's delicate skin which is prone to abrasions, combined with "very red blood", made even a very small injury produce a large amount of blood, "and it could look possibly worse than it actually is" Mr Woodley said.

OptionsTwo options available were refloating the whale back to deep water, which he described as very tricky, or putting it down."The other option is if the vet is of the opinion that the animal isn't going to survive...that we would actually put it down.''The size of the animal would make any rescue difficult.

The curator of London Aquarium, Paul Hale, said: "This is a very active swimming animal and it's not going to go anywhere it doesn't want to go so we have to persuade it to swim back out."I think it's going to be a tricky time for the guys that are dealing with it."The Zoological Society of London sent its marine mammal veterinary pathologist, Paul Jepson, to the banks of the Thames to assist with the rescue.

Thames whale amazes and intrigues By Alex KleidermanBBC News

Published: 2006/01/21 11:21:13 GMT

The rare sight of a whale in the Thames in central London brought crowds - and the world's media - out to the banks of the river.Hundreds of onlookers watched in wonder as the northern bottle-nosed whale, an endangered species, swam in the river on Friday.

"I've never seen a whale before and never thought I'd see one on the Thames," said David Bracegirdle.The art tutor, who spent several hours taking pictures, said it was "impressive" but he was concerned for the animal's safety.

The crowds continued to gather as the 16-18ft (5m) long whale swam past the landmark of the Houses of Parliament to Albert Bridge in Chelsea, followed by rescuers in boats.

CheersAs news of the unusual sighting spread more than 300 people lined the banks of the Thames to get their glimpse of the mammal in what it is believed to be the first such sighting in a century.As the whale surfaced every four or five minutes, spouting water from its blowhole, cameras clicked and cheers went up.

Accountant Shameen Khan was on a shopping trip on New Bond Street when she got a call from her friend telling her a whale - her favourite animal - had been spotted in the river near to his Chelsea home."I thought I should go and see it but I then got in a taxi and was heading somewhere else," she said."I then thought, 'You just live your life. You've got to come and see that whale'."

I have never seen a whale before. It's not something that happens too often in London.Louise Keen

Louise Keen took an extended lunch break to follow the whale's journey from central London on her bike, stopping at the bridges along the way to get a better view.The medical school administrator said: "I heard about it on the news when it was at Westminster Bridge and thought I'd go to see if I could head it off."It nearly got beached at Albert Bridge and a guy jumped in the water and had to push it back out."He got people to clap and stamp on the bridge to encourage it."Ms Keen added: "I have never seen a whale before. It's not something that happens too often in London."

'Particularly bizarre'Builders working on plush riverside apartments by Chelsea Embankment downed tools and peered over scaffolding to get a birds eye view of the event.Carpenter Richard Howart was down at the riverside."I thought I'd come down and have a look," he said. "I've seen it come up, popping up for air."I've seen whales in sea life exhibits in Florida but never anything like this."But even those who have experienced whales in the wild could not help being impressed by the Thames whale.

Vincent Petersen said he found the situation "particularly bizarre"."In November I was out in New Zealand to do some whale watching among other things."We saw a couple of whales there but never got as good a view as of the one I've seen in London," he said.

Fears for health of Thames whale Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/london/4633878.stm

Published: 2006/01/21 17:59:20 GMT

The condition of a whale stranded in the River Thames has worsened which has scuppered plans for it to be released into the open sea.The 18ft (5m) northern bottle-nosed whale was placed in a special pontoon in shallow water near Battersea Bridge.

It was then tethered close to two boats and towed to a barge which is heading for the river estuary.Experts hoped it could be let out into deep waters but the plan now is to release it off Whitstable in Kent.

If the whale is too weak experts may take the decision to put it down.Tony Woodley from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), which is leading the rescue operation, said the vet on the barge was "pessimistic" about the whale's chances.

The vet had told him the animal was suffering muscle stiffening and was under stress due to what it has gone through and being out of the water.

"The plan was to go round at least to the English Channel before it was released, but now it is just get as far out of the Thames as possible," he said.

"We have the awful trade off of far out we can take it and how long we can keep it out of the water."

A BDMLR spokesman said the barge should reach the a location known as "Shivering Sands" 15 miles off the coast of Whitstable from 2100 GMT to 2130 GMT.

A sighting of the whale on Saturday morning near Albert Bridge, in Chelsea, disappointed rescuers buoyed by an earlier report that it had been seen in Greenwich, which is closer to open water.

But as the rescuers moved the whale applause broke out among the 3,000 onlookers some on Battersea Bridge, which had been closed, as the whale passed beneath.

It is on an inflatable raft which is functioning as "makeshift whale mattress" on which it is being constantly watered down and monitored by experts.

It has been given several injections including antibiotics and earlier a vet on board the barge said the whale's had sustained cuts and its breathing was irregular.

Mark Stevens, from BDMLR, said lifting the animal onto the barge had "gone like clockwork" but it was the "scariest thing I've ever done in rescuing whales".

The whale, which could weigh about four tonnes, was first spotted at 0830 GMT on Friday by a man on a train and has since attracted massive public and media attention.

It soon became clear there was cause for concern, as the animal came within yards of the banks, almost beaching, and crashed into an empty boat, causing itself slight bleeding.

There were reports of a pod of whales in the Thames estuary earlier in the week, and it was possible that the whale had become separated from this group.

There was also an unconfirmed sighting of a whale in Southend in Essex on Friday.

It was the first sighting of the endangered species in the Thames since records began nearly a century ago.

In an unrelated incident, what is thought to be a harbour porpoise was found dead on the banks of the Thames in Putney, south-west London, on Saturday afternoon.

Lost whale dies after rescue bid

BBC NewsSaturday, 21 January 2006, 23:45 GMT

A whale that became stranded in the River Thames has died after a massive rescue attempt to save its life.The 18ft (5m) northern bottle-nosed whale was first spotted in the river on Friday and rescuers began an attempt to save it on Saturday morning.

But the whale died at about 1900 GMT on Saturday as rescuers transported it on a barge towards deeper water in the Thames Estuary.It was moved after being placed in a special pontoon near Battersea Bridge.

Alan Knight, from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) which led the rescue operation, said the animal died after it began to convulse while it was still on the barge.

See how they harnessed the whale"It has been a helter skelter ride all the way through. It is a sad end to a very long day," he said."Basically this is probably the right thing to happen in the end."If it had continued in this way we certainly wouldn't have released it."Perhaps this has saved that very difficult decision."

Earlier, close to Battersea Bridge, thousands of onlookers applauded as rescuers placed the whale on to a pontoon to move it from shallow water.It was winched on to the Port of London Authority barge where it was laid on an inflatable raft functioning as a "makeshift whale mattress".

As the whale was carried upstream towards the estuary a vet administered antibiotics.Earlier, naturalist and television presenter, Terry Nutkins, said the rescue operation was the wrong thing to do and that the animal needed space.

He told BBC Radio Five Live: "It wouldn't It wouldn't know what was happening, it was surrounded by boats...it would have been absolutely terrified as well as being stressed because it wouldn't be used to noises of propellers or engines.

"It was kept...like a goldfish in a bowl. So, it doesn't surprise me that it's died."However, he later concluded he had "no doubts" the rescue operation had been the best way to try to save the whale.

Pod spotted"You can't leave a whale stranded in the Thames and we did the best we could," he added.The whale, which could weigh about four tonnes, was first spotted at on Friday morning by a man on a train.There were reports of a pod of whales in the Thames estuary earlier in the week, and it was possible that the whale had become separated from this group.It was the first sighting of the endangered species in the Thames since records began nearly a century ago.

The body of a whale that died after becoming stranded in the River Thames is to be examined by marine experts.An attempt to transport the 18ft (5m) northern bottle-nosed whale back to deeper water in the Thames Estuary ended on Saturday with its death.

Thousands of onlookers lined the river to watch as the mammal was put on a special pontoon at Battersea Bridge and then onto a barge.

It finally died from natural causes at 1900 GMT after suffering convulsions.

Tony Woodley, of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), said hopes the whale would survive initially rose after it was lifted onto the barge, but it quickly became clear its survival was in doubt.

'Absolutely terrified'"It is such a shame, and I know that so many people in the UK and around the world have been watching this," he said.The whale was being taken to Shivering Sands off the north Kent coast, where rescuers had hoped to release it back into the sea.This plan had already been scaled down from an earlier one to transfer it to an "ocean-going vessel" and take it to deep water off the south coast.

As the whale had been carried upstream towards the estuary a vet administered antibiotics and it was constantly splashed with water and covered with a blanket in a bid to keep it alive.

Earlier, naturalist and television presenter Terry Nutkins said the rescue operation was the wrong thing to do and that the animal needed space.He told BBC Radio Five Live: "It wouldn't know what was happening, it was surrounded by boats...it would have been absolutely terrified as well as being stressed.

"It was kept...like a goldfish in a bowl. So, it doesn't surprise me that it's died."However, he later concluded he had "no doubts" the rescue operation had been the best way to try to save the whale.

Pod spottedThe operation is likely to have cost BDMLR up to £100,000.The whale, which could weigh about four tonnes, was first spotted at on Friday morning.There were reports of a pod of whales in the Thames estuary earlier in the week, and it was possible the whale had become separated from this group.It was the first sighting of the endangered species in the Thames since records began nearly a century ago.

Sonar threat to world's whales

Secret naval exercises lead to deaths of thousands of giant mammals worldwide. Stricken whale in Thames dies after dramatic attempt to return it to the ocean

Secret sonar from naval ships is killing thousands of whales around the world and could have disoriented the two-ton mammal that died last night after becoming stranded in the Thames, an investigation by The Independent on Sunday has established.

The northern bottlenose whale died despite dramatic attempts at a rescue witnessed by thousands of people on the banks of the river, and millions on television. The whale was lifted on to a barge and carried down the river, in the hope that it could be taken to the open sea. But its condition deteriorated, it began to suffer muscle spasms, and it died before anything further could be done.

Experts believe that the whale's senses could have been damaged by military sonar. Some 30 strandings and deaths of whales around the world - from Tasmania to North America - have been linked to its use. The United Nations and other international bodies have warned that it is a major threat to the animals.

The investigation has also revealed that - in a separate, but deeply embarrassing development - the Government faces being hauled before the European Court for failing to take enough care of the whales and dolphins around Britain's shores.

Professor Hal Whitehead of Dalhousie University in Canada - acknowledged to be the world's leading expert on northern bottlenose whales - said yesterday that he had never known the deep-ocean species to wander so far from its habitat.

"It would be unusual, and cause concern, for one to be found in the North Sea or English Channel, let alone a long way up a pretty shallow river," he said. "Its nearest habitat would be south-west of Cornwall. We know that beaked whales - the group of species to which the northern bottlenose whale belongs - are particularly sensitive to underwater noise. There has been a lot of seismic activity off northern Scotland and in the North Sea, and I understand that the Royal Navy exercises frequently."

Many strandings and deaths of whales and dolphins have been linked to sonar surveys in recent years (see table). In March 2000, for example, whales of four species beached themselves in the Bahamas after a battle group from the US navy used sonar nearby. A US government investigation established that they had been affected by the sonar. Since then, the area's population of Cuvier's beaked whales has virtually disappeared; investigators conclude that they have either abandoned the area or died at sea.

The Washington-based National Resources Defence Council says that more than 30 such incidents have been linked to sonar use around the world.

Last week, a US court discovered that the US government had cut references to the effects of naval sonar from a report on the stranding of 37 whales in North Carolina a year ago, shortly after military manoeuvres.

Strandings in Britain have more than doubled in the past decade, from 360 in 1994 to 782 in 2004, and vets believe that the number of whales that wash up on shore are only one-tenth of those that die, suggesting that there are thousands of casualties.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has started legal proceedings against Britain for failing adequately to monitor the health of whales and dolphins in its seas.

Strandings: Sonar takes a deadly toll

JAPAN 1990: Six whales die after US Navy tests sonar

GREECE MAY 1996: Twelve Cuvier's beaked whales stranded on the west coast of Greece as Nato sweep the area with sonar.

It will be several days before marine biologists can identify the cause of death of the northern bottle-nosed whale that captured the heart of the nation when it swam up the Thames in London at the weekend.

The whale died on Saturday night after rescuers tried to carry it into deeper waters on a salvage barge.

The Zoological Society of London said it hoped that the results of a post-mortem examination on the 18ft carcass would be available by Wednesday. Paul Jepson, a marine biologist, and his colleague Rob Deavill, who performed the autopsy said blubber samples were being analysed and the "echo response" areas of the brain, were being studied to try to find out whether the animal had become disoriented.

Tony Woodley, of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue group, said the decision to move the whale was correct, despite the outcome: "We believe that if the whale had been left how it was then it would have slowly died and we don't think that option was acceptable."

A spokeswoman for the International Fund for Animal Welfare, which was also involved in the rescue effort, said the "outpouring of emotion" should now be directed at saving whales elsewhere in the world. "Tragically, it's too late for this whale, but another 1,000 whales are currently in the sights of Japanese whaling vessels. Whales around the world face deadly threats - from whaling by Japan, Norway and Iceland, pollution and habitat destruction, and increased noise in the ocean," she said.

" We're calling on people to write to Tony Blair to let him know how much they care about whales and ask him to make a strong protest to whaling nations."

It will be several days before marine biologists can identify the cause of death of the northern bottle-nosed whale that captured the heart of the nation when it swam up the Thames in London at the weekend.

The whale died on Saturday night after rescuers tried to carry it into deeper waters on a salvage barge.

The Zoological Society of London said it hoped that the results of a post-mortem examination on the 18ft carcass would be available by Wednesday. Paul Jepson, a marine biologist, and his colleague Rob Deavill, who performed the autopsy said blubber samples were being analysed and the "echo response" areas of the brain, were being studied to try to find out whether the animal had become disoriented.

Tony Woodley, of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue group, said the decision to move the whale was correct, despite the outcome: "We believe that if the whale had been left how it was then it would have slowly died and we don't think that option was acceptable."A spokeswoman for the International Fund for Animal Welfare, which was also involved in the rescue effort, said the "outpouring of emotion" should now be directed at saving whales elsewhere in the world. "Tragically, it's too late for this whale, but another 1,000 whales are currently in the sights of Japanese whaling vessels. Whales around the world face deadly threats - from whaling by Japan, Norway and Iceland, pollution and habitat destruction, and increased noise in the ocean," she said.

" We're calling on people to write to Tony Blair to let him know how much they care about whales and ask him to make a strong protest to whaling nations."

Monday, January 16, 2006

5 Pilot Whales stranded in Golden Bay, New Zealand

Another pod of whales has beached itself on the same stretch of Golden Bay that was the site of a mass stranding before Christmas.

The pod of five pilot whales was spotted on the beach near Puponga Bay on Monday morning.

DOC's Community relations programme manager Greg Napp says by the time Department of Conservation staff got to the site there were only four whales on the beach and three had already died.

Napp says the one remaining whale was able to be refloated and sent out to sea.

The latest stranding is the third in the past month. On New Year's Eve 49 whales died after becoming beached near the tip of Farewell Spit. Eight died naturally, while 41 others were shot by DOC staff as it was considered too dangerous to attempt their rescue.

On December 20, 129 whales stranded on Puponga Beach. Rescuers were eventually able to refloat and save about 100 whales.

No more whales stranded16/01/2006 17:04:03

There have been no sign of any more whales stranding after Department of Conservation staff successfully re-floated a single surviving pilot whale from a group discovered beached in Golden Bay this morning.

Four whales were found beached at Puponga this morning.

They were near the scene of last month's large stranding. DOC spokeswoman Trish Grant says three of the mammals were dead by the time rescuers got to them but the fourth managed to swim free.

Boats in the area report no sign of more whales heading towards Golden Bay.

Three whales die after stranding 17 January 2006 By TOM FITZSIMONS

More whales have stranded near Farewell Spit, on the northwestern tip of the South Island.

Conservation Department staff raced to Taupata Point yesterday morning after a member of the public reported a pod of five pilot whales had beached there.

When DOC staff arrived, three of the whales were dead and one had disappeared – possibly having refloated itself. Eight DOC workers and local volunteers were able to refloat the remaining whale, which began to swim strongly out to sea.

DOC rangers checked the water for other whales, but found none. The three dead whales, none of which were fully grown, – would be disposed of after consultation with local iwi, a DOC spokeswoman said.

Taupata Point is two kilometres south of Puponga, where last month hundreds of people worked to refloat more than 100 pilot whales after a mass stranding.

A week later 49 pilot whales, believed to be from a separate pod, were shot after stranding at the inaccessible tip of Farewell Spit.

Those whales were left to decay, – more than half being washed out to sea.

Golden Bay DOC community relations officer Greg Napp said it was unclear if the whales were from either of the pods that stranded last month. It was still difficult to understand why they continued to beach in Golden Bay, he said.

"There are tonnes of theories floating around. Some people think they get chased in by predators such as orca.

"Another theory is that when some get sick they strand themselves because they're too tired to swim."

The shallow shelving beaches of Golden Bay and jutting landforms such as Farewell Spit could also be reasons for the strandings, he said.

It was possible the whales were "just trying to swim in a straight line across Cook Strait" when they came upon the land, he said.

Weather blamed in whale strandings

18.01.06 1.00pm

Experts say the run of whale strandings in Golden Bay may be connected to weather patterns.

The latest stranding, on Monday, resulted in three long-finned pilot whales being left to decompose on Farewell Spit.

Mammal collection manager for Wellington's Te Papa Museum, Anton van Helden, said scientists were unsure what caused whales to strand but believed it could be related to weather patterns.

A Tasmanian study showed there was a local correlation between mass strandings and weather cycles, he said.

Individual strandings happened all year round but mass strandings tended to occur around New Zealand during November, December and January, when the sea was warmer, he told the Nelson Mail.

The whales could be driven in while on the hunt for seasonal food, or to give birth, or it could be that one or two animals in a pod were ill and drew the remainder of the mammals inshore, he said.

Meanwhile, overseas experts said a snowstorm might have contributed to the death of nine whales and 24 dolphins after becoming stranded on Cape Cod in Massachusetts last year.

And the United Nations and marine experts said naval manoeuvres and submarine sonars in oceans are a new factor among many threatening dolphins, whales and porpoises that depend on sound to survive.

Researchers found that a stranding in the 1990s of 12 Goosebeak whales in the Ionian Sea, around Greece, coincided with Nato tests of an acoustic submarine detection system.

Other Goosebeaks were stranded off the Bahamas in 2000, and experts linked that to military tests.

Tests on the bodies of seven whales that died near the Canary Islands in 2002 found haemorrhages and inner ear damage, which experts said was caused by high-intensity, low-frequency sonar used in the area.

In Tasmania, disease, the drive to stay with a sick pod member, and confusing underwater topography were all theories regularly put forward to explain the heartbreaking sight of beached whales dying lingering deaths on Australia's beaches.

Animal welfare organisations have been lobbying for years to restrict military sonar, which is used to locate submarines and other underwater objects.

They have documented dozens of cases of mass whale strandings and deaths around the world that they say are associated with sonar blasts, which are thought to disorient marine mammals and can cause bleeding from the eyes and ears.

Friday, January 13, 2006

1 Humpback Whale washes up on Cape Island, near Charleston S.C.

Cape Island - The carcass of an endangered humpback whale has washed up on one of the state's most remote stretches of beach. Researchers are still trying to determine its cause of death.

The whale's location made for a difficult day's work for National Ocean Service biologist Wayne McFee.

"We were very limited ... it took us an hour and a half to walk to the animal today with all our gear," McFee said. "We couldn't come from the beach and had to get to it from the back side of the island, and there's a big marsh back there."

The humpback's enormous, bloated carcass was first reported floating on the open ocean 18 miles offshore from Charleston on Saturday. Pushed by southerly winds, the creature eventually drifted north and washed up on a beach in the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

When McFee and biologists Dean Cain, Lauren Beddila and Leslie Burdett reached the animal, they found a 45-foot, 9.5-inch-long female that had likely been floating dead for at least a week. Female humpbacks can reach up to 52 feet in length, so it was likely that this whale was a young adult, McFee said.

With the tide rising and daylight fading, the team only had time to take basic measurements, gather samples of skin and blubber and a make quick cutaway examination of the left side of the whale's skull. These early measurements only determined that the whale did not die by fishing line entanglement or a blow to the head from a passing ship.

"There were also a number of shark bites, and I was wondering if that or a collision killed the whale. But we didn't see any evidence of that," McFee said.

A further examination of the humpback today should help determine whether a ship might have impacted the whale's body, or if the animal died of disease, perhaps. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokesperson Blair Mase said that, as of Wednesday, there was no indication that the Navy was conducting any sonar exercises that might have damaged the whale's hearing and led to its death.

McFee added that the animal was so badly decomposed that the cause of her demise might never be determined. Because humpback whales are listed as an endangered species, researchers typically try to conduct thorough examinations on any dead ones that wash ashore.

"The location of where it is is just not good for trying to get pieces and parts out of there," he said, "We won't even be able to move the head."

Contact Chris Dixon at cdixon@postandcourier.com or 745-5855.

Scientists say humpback whale died after hitting ship

Associated PressCHARLESTON, S.C.

- Scientists say a humpback whale that washed up this week on a remote section of the South Carolina coast apparently died after being hit by a ship.The whale's carcass was first reported about 18 miles off Charleston last weekend. It washed up later on Cape Island at the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.Scientists conducted a necropsy on Thursday."There were multiple fractures to numerous ribs, shards of bone spread through the body," said Wayne McFee of the National Ocean Service's marine mammal stranding program. "That's what did her in, we're pretty sure."The humpback whale is an endangered species. There are now an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 humpback whales which were driven nearly to extinction a century ago by whalers.

Biologists: Humpback whale died from collision with ship

(Charleston-AP) January 13, 2006 - Biologists say a humpback whale that washed up on the beach in Charleston County died after being hit by a ship.Wayne McFee with the National Ocean Service says the whale suffered numerous broken ribs and there were bone shards throughout the animal's body.

The 45-foot whale was found on Cape Island on Wednesday. Biologists who examined the badly decomposed whale Wednesday say it was likely a young female.

The body had been seen floating about 18 miles off Charleston last Saturday.

McFee says the necropsy, photographs and other evidence will be reviewed by humpback whale experts.

Four ocean service biologists and two College of Charleston students performed the necropsy.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

6 Pilot Whales beached between Foxton and Waitotara, New Zealand

Dead whales washed up10.01.2006 By LAUREL STOWELL laurel.stowell@wanganuichronicle.co.nz DOWNWIND of a dead whale the stench can be pretty powerful. Conservation Department staff and beachgoers have been discovering this on the Wanganui coast and beyond. Six whales have beached on the coast between Foxton and Waitotara during the past few days.

There was one at Foxton, one at Himatangi, two at Turakina Beach, one just north of Kai Iwi Beach and another near Waiinu.

There is speculation the deaths may be linked to a pod of 49 pilot whales that beached at Farewell Spit on New Year’s Eve. Some died and the rest were shot to end their suffering, because they could not be saved.

Their bodies had been blown off the spit by around January 3. One piece of evidence linking that stranding with recent finds is that the whale found at Foxton had a bullet hole visible near its blowhole.

Yesterday the Chronicle accompanied DoC staff to two long-finned pilot whales that stranded about 1.6km south of Koitiata during the past few days.

Vivienne McGlynn, DoC’s Palmerston North biodiversity manager, said the two 4m whales were dead when they were washed ashore. Both had large bites taken out of their undersides, probably by sharks or killer whales.

The male whale looked whitish because he had lost most of his skin. His penis was sticking out – a rare sight for human eyes.

The sex of the other whale wasn’t known, and it still had most of its skin.

The two whales would be buried further up the beach this morning. Before that Maori who were authorised by Rangitikei iwi Ngati Apa would be able to take bones or teeth for carving.

South Taranaki iwi Nga Rauru should be asked for permission to take material from whales beached from Kai Iwi northward.

Samples taken, dead whales buried 10 January 2006 By JILL GALLOWAY

The Department of Conservation (DOC) yesterday took samples and measurements from two pilot whales that washed up dead at Turakina Beach and then buried them.

DOC biodiversity manager Vivienne McGlynn says a total of four whales have washed up on area beaches during the past few days and the department believes all are from the pod that beached at Farewell Spit at the top of the South Island a little over a week ago. "They were dead when they washed up and we think they had been attacked by sharks or perhaps orcas after they'd died," she says.

Mrs McGlynn says the department does not know the cause of the deaths. "Some of the whales refloated at Farewell Spit were perhaps not strong enough to survive and may have died at sea."

DOC took samples of teeth and skin, which will be sent to Auckland University. Measurements and other information will go to the national museum Te Papa.

Mrs McGlynn says whales are protected under the marine Mammals Act and it is illegal to take any part of the animal, even when it is dead.

There is a hefty fine for anyone taking any part of a whale illegally, she says. "There are proper procedures and people can talk to the appropriate iwi."

Mrs McGlynn says she believes the teeth and bones of pilot whales are not sought after by Maori for carving.

Maori did take pieces of the whale that washed up at Himatangi Beach at the weekend, but the one at Foxton Beach was buried immediately and the two at Turakina have been buried intact, she says.

DOC only buries washed-up whales if they are near human settlements.

"It's quite possible more whales will wash ashore on the beaches in Manawatu and Wanganui and if people see any, we'd like them to ring DOC as soon as possible," Mrs McGlynn says.

Sunday, January 01, 2006

5 Common dolphins stranded at Mayo Beach, Cape Cod

January 1, 2006

Dolphin strandings sour end of 2005By SEAN GONSALVESSTAFF WRITERWELLFLEET - Volunteers and staff members of the Cape Cod Stranding Network were busy on the final weekend of 2005, as they've been all year.

Yesterday, network members euthanized a common dolphin discovered by volunteers on Lieutenants Island, according to network coordinator Kristen Patchett.''When we arrived, the dolphin was showing signs of being in shock. We ended up euthanizing the animal at about noon,'' she said.

Patchett said the dolphin was likely part of the same group of dolphins that had beached themselves at Mayo Beach on Friday afternoon.Those four dolphins, she said, were not in shock and appeared to be relatively healthy when they were found.

The dolphins were transported on a flatbed truck to Provincetown, where their dorsal fins were tagged with an orange marker before they were released at Herring Cove.The five dolphin strandings over the weekend, Patchett said, capped off a busy year. The Cape Cod area averages about 205 strandings year - from whales to dolphins.This year network members were called to 315 strandings, Pachett said.Though stranded sea animals can give scientists a sense of the health of the ocean, Patchett said strandings are common occurrences on the Cape going back thousands of years, and yesterday's strandings should not necessarily be seen as a cause for alarm.However, Patchett said, ''if people find stranded marine mammals on the beach, they should not try to return them to the water but call our hotline.''

49 Pilot Whales stranded, Farewell Spit New Zealand

41 stranded whales shot in N.Z.Jan. 1, 2006. 08:41 PM

WELLINGTON, N.Z. (AP) — Wildlife officers shot 41 pilot whales that beached on New Zealand's South Island, the Department of Conservation said.A total of 49 whales came ashore Saturday near Farewell Spit in the second major stranding in the area within two weeks. Eight died on the beaches and the remaining animals were shot when heavy seas prevented any attempt to refloat them.

"Given the hopelessness of being able to successfully refloat the whales, our prime concern was then to avoid the whales' suffering a long and painful death," Greg Napp, the department's Golden Bay area officer, said in a statement.Napp said the latest stranding was likely unconnected to another last month when 129 pilot whales came ashore close by.

Conservation officers and volunteers managed to refloat more than 100 in that stranding but 21 whales died.Mike Rogers, a Department of Conservation worker, said the whales that beached Saturday were not thought to be from the pod involved in the larger stranding Dec. 20.

"There have always been strandings at Golden Bay," he said, noting the tide goes out as much as 6.5 kilometres and the animals ``get trapped on this gentle sloping beach."

Stranded whales shot dead in NZ Dozens of stranded pilot whales have been shot dead in New Zealand to end their suffering when it was ruled too difficult to get them back in the sea. The department of conservation said any attempt to refloat the whales would be too dangerous for the humans involved and would probably not have worked.

The whales were stranded on a beach near Farewell Spit, on the north-western tip of the South Island. More than 100 whales were freed from the same area about two weeks ago.

These latest stranded whales are not thought to have been from the same pod. The latest whales were stranded further out on the spit than the previous group, meaning that any rescue attempt could have resulted in people being swept out to sea. Eight of the whales died within hours of being stranded, the New Zealand Herald reported. Another 41 whales were shot to end their suffering.

"Given the hopelessness of being able to successfully refloat the whales, our prime concern was then to avoid the whales having a long and painful death," said a conservation department spokesman, Greg Napp, quoted by the paper.

Scientists are not sure what causes whales to beach themselves.

DOC says whale strandings strange

Jan 2, 2006

The Department of Conservation says it is strange that two different pods of whales have beached themselves around Golden Bay within the past fortnight.21 pilot whales died when they were stranded on Puponga Beach a few days before Christmas.Another eight died on Saturday in a second stranding near Farewell Spit, and DOC was forced to kill the other 41 mammals, as conditions were too rough to refloat them.DOC's Golden Bay acting area manager, Greg Napp, says the whales are attracted to Golden Bay because of the sheltered waters.Napp says it was difficult to shoot the whales, but it was important to put them out of their misery.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

123 Pilot whales stranded near Farewell Spit, New Zealand

Over 120 whales stranded at Farewell Spit

TUESDAY , 20 DECEMBER 2005

Over 120 pilot whales were today beached near Farewell Spit at the top of the South Island.

About 100 volunteers and Department of Conservation (DOC) staff were this evening trying to keep the 123 whales moist in the hope they would refloat themselves when high tide returned about 2am, DOC Golden Bay manager John Mason told National Radio.

Sheets were covering the whales and they were being soaked with buckets of seawater, Mr Mason said.

The volunteers and staff could not remain on the beach overnight as it was too dangerous but would return tomorrow morning to see how many whales remained.

Pilot whales beached at Farewell SpitDec 20, 2005

More than 120 pilot whales have beached themselves near Farewell Spit at the top of the South Island.The Department of Conservation says the whales are spread over about a kilometre at Puponga Beach. They became stranded when the tide went out about 1pm on Tuesday.DOC Golden Bay manager John Mason says about 100 volunteers were trying to keep the whales comfortable with wet sheets, but hey were not able to stay with the whales overnight because it was too dangerous.Mason hopes at least some of the whales will be able to refloat themselves at the next high tide.However, he says it is likely not all the whales will refloat themselves and volunteers will be allowed back on the beach at dawn if necessary.

Pilot whales have stranded at the beach in the past.Source: RNZ/One News

Wellington - A group of more than 120 pilot whales remained stranded on a New Zealand beach on Tuesday and conservation workers said most were unlikely to survive the night.Ten of the whales, believed to have followed a sick member of their pod into shore near Farewell Spit at the north end of the South Island, died before volunteers were forced to leave the beach for fear of being trapped in darkness by the incoming tide, news reports said.About 150 volunteers, including foreign tourists, worked for hours pouring water over the stranded whales and covering them with wet blankets but were unable to get them back into deep water at Puponga beach, on Golden Bay.Reporters said the scene was heart-breaking with many volunteers in tears at the sound of baby whales in the pod crying.Department of Conservation workers said it was hoped many of the whales who are spread over about one kilometre of beach would refloat themselves at the next high tide, but they feared there would be heavy losses.Those still stranded will have to wait for the following high tide on Wednesday afternoon. Conservation workers and volunteers planned to return to the beach at first light to review the situation.

DOC hopeful high tide will refloat some of stranded whalesPosted at 9:31pm on 20 Dec 2005

More than 100 whales stranded at the top of the South Island are being left to try to refloat themselves on the high tide early in the morning.About 120 pilot whales beached themselves at 2pm on Tuesday at Puponga Beach, near Farewell Spit.More than 100 volunteers tried to keep them comfortable with wet sheets but Department of Conservation manager John Mason says they had to leave before darkness.He told Checkpoint it was not safe for them to stay with the whales overnight.Mr Mason says it is unlikely all the whales will refloat themselves on the 2am high tide, and volunteers will be allowed back on the beach at dawn if necessary.

Hundreds of Farewell Spit residents and tourists have joined conservation workers in a frantic battle to help 123 stranded whales, and more rescue attempts are planned today.The pod of pilot whales began beaching themselves at Puponga at midday yesterday and by last night were strewn the length of the beach, at the top of the South Island, the Conservation Department's Golden Bay area manager, John Mason, said.Three had died by early last night. "They have basically thrashed themselves to death," Mr Mason said.Everything possible was being done to keep the others alive. "We've got sheets and blankets over them and we're keeping them damp. We've also set up sprinkler systems with pumps so we're getting water on to them that way."Rescuers from Project Jonah and Marine Watch are expected to help DOC staff and locals to refloat the pod at high tide about 2pm today.Farewell Gardens Holiday Park manager Shelagh Schaab said hordes of tourists were also helping. "There are about three times as many people as whales. They are using their own shovels and spades."The volunteers were asked to leave the beach last night. DOC marine specialist Andrew Baxter said it was too dangerous to try to refloat the whales in the dark at high tide this morning. "People's safety is our first priority."Mr Mason said it was likely that only about a third of the whales would be able to get themselves afloat unaided overnight. While some were close to the high-tide mark, others further up the beach would probably need help.Mr Baxter said strandings were common between November and February, but this was the region's first since 1998.

Whales still strandedPosted at 6:10am on 21 Dec 2005

Conservation staff and volunteers are this morning trying to save a pod of pilot whales stranded since yesterday near Farewell Spit, at the top of the South Island.A total of 116 pilot whales beached themselves at 2pm on Tuesday at Puponga Beach, near Farewell Spit.Some were expected to refloat themselves at high tide at 2am, but the Department of Conservation expects many to still be on the beach. At least 10 of the whales are dead.Volunteers with wet sheets yesterday tried to keep the whales hydrated.The next opportunity to refloat the whales will be at high tide this afternoon, just after 2pm.

Rescuers are back at a beach near Farewell Spit again this morning, to see whether efforts to save a pod of 116 whales have succeeded.The mammals beached at Puponga, at Golden Bay, yesterday. By nightfall, at least ten had died.Volunteers and DOC staff hoped many of the whales would swim back out to sea at high tide, which was at 2am.

Whales still stranded21/12/2005 7:07:03

It appears none of the whales stranded at Puponga in Golden Bay have made it back to sea overnight.Around 115 whales are stuck on the beach. High tide was early this morning but none of the whales have refloated.John Mason from the Department of Conservation says the survival rate seems to have been fairly good and only one of the mammals has died over night, although ten perished yesterday.He says volunteers and DOC staff will be trying to keep the whales as calm and hydrated as possible before attempting to free them on this afternoon's high tide.Mr Mason says hundreds of volunteers will be needed if there is to be any hope of saving the whales.

Rescue continues for Pilot WhalesDec 21, 2005

A major rescue operation is underway near Farewell Spit at the top of the South Island where more than 100 pilot whales have been stranded since Tuesday.The Department of Conservation says the whales are spread over about a kilometre at Puponga Beach.About 50 volunteers are already at the scene, and more are expected, to make an attempt to re-float the whales.The next opportunity to refloat the whales will be at high tide just after 2pm.Some of the whales were expected to refloat themselves at high tide at 2am but the Department of Conservation says many are still be on the beach.At least 20 of the whales are dead.

Source: RNZ

Frantic effort to save whales

21 December 2005

Conservation workers and volunteers are today battling to save the remaining 116 pilot whales at Farewell Spit after the biggest mass stranding of whales in the country since 1993.Despite rescue efforts, around 10 of the estimated 123 whales are believed to have died.This morning another 40 whales were seen offshore near the stranded group.Visitors from as far afield as China and Germany yesterday worked alongside Golden Bay residents trying to keep the whales as comfortable as possible on the beach at Puponga, on the west side of Golden Bay.Whales are being covered with wet sheets and blankets and water poured over them to try and keep them cool.Volunteers worked until about 8.15pm when Department of Conservation (DOC) whale rescue co-ordinators cleared the beach, partly for people's safety."It would be too dangerous to work in the dark and also futile. To move the whales back out to sea we need to get them all together first," said Hans Stoffregen, biodiversity manager of DOC's Golden Bay office.The next opportunity to refloat the whales will be this afternoon at high tide.The drama began about 11.30am yesterday when Puponga resident Linda Campbell looked out of her home window and spotted a large pod of whales swimming in shallow water.She contacted the Takaka Department of Conservation Office, who immediately sent out rangers Simon Walls and Clayton Ross in a boat to attempt to intercept the whales before they became stranded.Golden Bay area manager John Mason said that workers had tracked the pod of whales after seeing them looking confused and milling around near the shore."It wasn't a great surprise to us when they began to strand when the tide turned and began to go out."The first whale had stranded about 2pm and the rest of the pod of 4-5m whales had progressively stranded.The whales had beached in two groups, with one group of 60 whales near the top of the beach and another group of 63 whales becoming stranded further out.Mr Stoffregen said the best way of righting the whales was to dig around the flippers and get their flippers into water, being careful not to injure them with spades..For some of the larger whales which were up to 5m long, it took five people to right them.Once this job was done the animals were covered with sheets, with a space being left around the blowhole, when the task of keeping the whales cool and wet could begin."We've also got some pumps down there so we're going set up some sprinkler systems," Mr Mason said.As the afternoon wore on a few of the whales died on the beach, including a couple of mothers who had baby whales beached beside them.Ranger Mr Walls said it was possible for whales to survive for up to three days on a beach if they were kept moist.He said the weather, with squally showers and offshore north-westerly winds, was "typical stranding weather".German backpacker Martin Huehmergarth said he was in the Farewell Spit cafe looking at photos of whale strandings and minutes later "we were up to our hips in the sea bailing buckets of water doing it for real"."It is so sad to see them all," he said.Japanese visitor Mieko Sato said she spent a couple of hours helping out."We want to do what we can," said Ms Sato.There had been other mass strandings in the area, the last in 1998 when about the same number of whales had beached.Mr Walls said Farewell Spit was a trap."The shallow shelving beach, the spit and the configuration of headlands seems to cause navigation problems for them. These conditions seem to trigger strandings," he said.

Whales' fate in the hands of the tides 21 December 2005

The fate of more than 100 pilot whales stranded on Puponga Beach in Golden Bay hinges on whether rescuers can refloat them on the high tide early this afternoon.Nineteen of the whales had died by this morning after efforts to refloat the stranded mammals failed last night.It was New Zealand's biggest mass stranding since 1993.More than 120 volunteers battled to save the whales until just before nightfall yesterday, covering the large mammals with sheets and continually pouring seawater on them to prevent their skins drying out.The Department of Conservation (DOC) had hoped that most of the whales would free themselves during a high tide overnight, but instead they became more stranded than before.DOC spokesman Darren Foxwell, who was at the site all night, said the whales were initially in two large groups, but the group stranded further out had moved up the beach to join the others.DOC staff estimate that between 116 and 123 whales are stranded.About 70 volunteers - local people and visitors - returned to the beach early today to keep the whales hydrated and comfortable. More were expected to arrive later."We're hoping for up to 200 people in full wetsuits to help with the big rescue operation between 12 and 1pm today at high tide," Mr Foxwell said."We're hopeful the rescue will be successful but it is not an easy stranding, because the whales are spread over an area of 300m from top to bottom, so some of them will be well afloat before the sea reaches the whales highest up the beach."Tourists from as farafield as China and Germany joined the rescue effort yesterday, many of them having never seen a whale before."It's just like (the movie) Whale Rider but probably without the happy ending," Rebecca Archibald from Somerset, England said.DOC whale rescue coordinators cleared the beach about 8.15pm, yesterday, partly for people's safety."It would be too dangerous to work in the dark, and also futile," said Hans Stoffregen, biodiversity manager of DOC's Golden Bay office."To move the whales back out to sea, we need to get them all together first."The drama began about 11.30am yesterday when Pakawau resident Linda Campbell looked out of her window and spotted a large pod of whales swimming in shallow water.She contacted DOC's Takaka office, which immediately sent rangers Simon Walls and Clayton Ross out in a boat to attempt to intercept the whales before they could strand.DOC spokesman Greg Napp said three whales came in very close, with one of them becoming beached."A crew of five tried to move the stranded whale with slings to ease it out but then all the others came back to check out the one whale as the tide dropped."Whale rescue coordinators organised volunteers into pairs to comfort each whale. Instructing one group, Mr Stoffreggen said: "The best way of righting the whales is to dig around the flippers and get their flippers into water, being careful not to injure them with spades."It took five people to right some of the larger whales, which were up to 5m long.Once this job was done the animals were covered with sheets, with a space left around the blowhole, and the task of keeping the whales cool and wet could begin.German backpacker Martin Huehmergarth found it a sad experience."We were in the Farewell Spit cafe looking at photos of whale strandings and minutes later we were up to our hips in the sea bailing buckets of water, doing it for real."Japanese tourist Mieko Sato had helped out for a couple of hours."We want to do what we can," said Ms Sato.DO ranger Simon Walls said it was possible for whales to survive for up to three days on a beach if they were kept moist.He said the weather, with squally showers and offshore northwesterly winds, was "typical stranding weather".No one knew exactly why the pod had become stranded but Mr Walls said strandings had occurred in the area before."Farewell Spit is a trap. The shallow shelving beach, the spit and the configuration of headlands seems to cause navigation problems for them. These conditions seem to trigger strandings."

Whales may not survive if midday rescue unsuccessfulPosted at 11:30am on 21 Dec 2005

Attempts to help more than 100 pilot whales beached in Golden Bay, continue today.The Department of Conservation says many of the whales stranded at Puponga Beach, near Farewell Spit, will not survive today, if they can't be refloated on the next high tide.A total of 123 pilot whales beached themselves at 2pm on Tuesday along 1km of Puponga Beach, near Farewell Spit. At least 10 are dead and DOC says others are becoming increasingly distressed.Around 100 volunteers are covering the whales with wet sheets and pouring buckets of water on them.DOC and volunteers are trying to keep the whales hydrated. A Radio New Zealand reporter at the beach says cloudy, drizzly weather is helping the rescue mission.An attempt will be made around midday to refloat the whales. DOC says it's impossible to tell what will happen when they try to do so.Rescuers are hoping for a repeat of a rescue mission about 15 years ago in the same area, in which 300 mammals were refloated.

The rising tide has reached the first of the whales as rescuers prepare to help them to safety.More than a hundred whales have beached at Puponga in Golden Bay and rescuers hope to refloat the survivors on the high tide at 2pm.Conservation Department spokeswoman Trish Grant is at the scene and says up to 300 volunteers have come out to help. However, she says they have got a tough job ahead of them.She says this stage is crucial as the whales all need to be moved out at the same time. Out of the original 123 whales which came ashore yesterday, there are 115 whales still alive.Meanwhile a whale expert says there are no assurances the stranded whales will survive.Dr Padraig Duignan from Massey University says because they have been out of the water for around 24 hours, they will have suffered significant muscle damage, which he doubts they can recover from.

Whale rescue at critical stagePosted at 2:51pm on 21 Dec 2005

A whale rescue mission in Golden Bay hangs in the balance after a 24 hour effort by rescuers.More than 125 whales stranded since yesterday afternoon have been slowly guided towards sea off Puponga Beach, at Farewell Spit, by hundreds of volunteers and Department of Conservation (DOC) staff.The pod is slowly moving out to sea, but DOC officials say it is too early to claim success, as the whales could yet head back into the shore.Rescuers are hoping for a repeat of a rescue mission about 15 years ago in the same area, in which 300 mammals were refloated.

Most of the pilot whales which were stranded for hours at Golden Bay have headed back to the deep.Rescuers encouraged the mammals back to sea as high tide passed less than an hour ago. They are being shadowed by Department Of Conservation and volunteer boats.Classic Hits Nelson breakfast host Kent Robertson is in the water amongst the rescuers. He says the key thing now is to discourage the whales from turning around and coming back to rescue other members of the pod.Department Of Conservation workers estimate about 15 of the 123 whales have died.There is still hope the whales will survive, although experts fear the mammals will be exhausted by their stranding ordeal.

Whales turn back to shore21/12/2005 17:30:07

Despite nearly 24 hours of trying to get more than a hundred whales back to sea in Golden Bay, it looks as if conservationists' attempts may have been futile.The pod has now turned back towards the shore. The mammals were successfully refloated and heading towards deeper water just after high tide this afternoon.However the exhausted whales are now turning back to shore at Puponga Beach.Department Of Conservation staff and volunteers in boats will now try to coax them back the other way.One of the helpers at Golden Bay says they are getting ready to spend another night there caring for the whales and trying to send them back into the water

Second stranding of whales21/12/2005 18:05:02

There has been a second stranding involving some of the pilot whales which were re-floated from Golden Bay this afternoon.The Department Of Conservation says 55 came back ashore but they have since been sent out to sea off Farewell Spit again.Staff and volunteers are now trying to coax the whales back further towards the deep.They are slapping the water to create bubbles as a deterrent to the mammal as they head for land.Classic Hits host Kent Robertson, speaking from one of the boats attempting to redirect the whales, told Newstalk ZB's Larry Williams that the volunteers are working hard. However, he says they do not know if it will become another all-night vigil. It is now 24 hours since the saga first unfolded.

Whales back out at sea21/12/2005 19:01:03

Volunteers and DOC officials in Golden Bay hope a pod of exhausted whales will stay out at sea.Fifteen of the pilot whales have died on Puponga Beach, but the rest were re-floated this afternoon after being stranded for nearly 24 hours. The task of getting them back into the deep has been full of trials.At one stage the whales turned back to shore, and 28 of the stragglers became stranded again just two kilometres from their departure point.DOC spokeswoman Trish Grant says the entire pod is now back in the sea. She says people in the water were able to get the whales refloated and move them back out to seaTrish Grant says there is still a chance some whales could re-strand.One of the volunteers was Nelson Classic Hits radio announcer Kent Robertson who says a vast number of volunteers were still on hand, standing waist deep in the water watching the whales as they head out to sea.He says the rest of the pod waited while the stranded whales were refloated.He paid tribute to the hard work of all the volunteers who took part in the rescue exercise.

Rescuers who helped save more than 100 whales stranded along Puponga Beach on the South Island's Farewell Spit this evening faced the heartbreak of seeing 10 of the whales in trouble again just a kilometre down the beach.About 15 of the estimated 123 pilot whales that stranded from about midday yesterday died before the pod was shepherded out to sea by Department of Conservation (DOC) staff and hundreds of volunteers on the second high tide about 2pm today.But just three hours later, after many of the volunteers had gone home, about 10 of the whales were back in shallow water about 1km south along the beach.DOC Golden Bay spokeswoman Trish Grant said efforts were focussed on trying to prevent another mass stranding and on getting the 10 whales already in trouble back to sea."They're in shallow water at the moment and we're hoping we can turn them around before they're completely stranded."They're still floating but the tide's going out."Other whales were also milling around close by and boats and volunteers were in the water trying to keep them away from shore.Ms Grant said the rescuers were hugely disappointed."We've been quite hopeful that they were all going to go safely out to sea and we didn't have to worry about them again."It is a bit gutting really."Ms Grant said they might yet need to call for more volunteers.She said historically only about 60 per cent of stranded whales survived before being refloated so for only 15 of the 123 whales to die so far was a remarkable effort.As with last night, the rescuers would do what they could before dark if the whales could not be shepherded out to sea, Ms Grant said.But if they did completely strand, once it was dark, rescuers would have to leave the beach as it would be too dangerous.Another high tide would arrive in the early hours of the morning and the whales may be able to refloat on their own.

Scores of stranded whales rescued off New Zealand

Wed Dec 21, 2005 1:12 AM ETWELLINGTON (Reuters) - More than 100 pilot whales stranded on a beach at the top of New Zealand's South Island were refloated by volunteers on Wednesday and conservation officials in boats herded the mammals out to sea.Hundreds of volunteers, including tourists, refloated the beached whales just before high tide at around 2 p.m. (0100 GMT), about 24 hours after they were stranded.A handful of the whales tried to swim back and ground themselves again about three hours later, but rescuers formed a human chain to force them back into open water."This was certainly a lot easier than this morning's (rescue) because they hadn't completely grounded, although some of them had to be lifted across the mud," rescuer Craig Potton told Radio New Zealand."You grab it by the nose, just like elephants in Nepal, you manhandle them and push them. You just push like hell to make it go out, in the final analysis -- you don't muck around," he said.In previous strandings, whales have broken away from a rescued group and led the others back to the beach.About 15 of the estimated 115 long-finned pilot whales died on Puponga Beach, about 150 km (93 miles) northwest of the city of Nelson, before volunteers were able to refloat them.The whales initially beached themselves over a wide area on Tuesday but grouped together overnight as the sea came in. They were washed with water to keep them cool and prevent their skin from drying out before they were refloated.New Zealand, which has 41 whale species in its waters, has a high rate of strandings because of its long coastline and sometimes shallow waters, said Anton van Helden, collections manager of marine mammals at the New Zealand museum Te Papa.In January 2003, 159 pilot whales were stranded on New Zealand's southern Stewart Island. The largest stranding on record was of 1,000 pilot whales in 1918 on the Chatham Islands, 800 km (500 miles) east of the mainland.Conservation ranger Simon Walls said it was not known how the latest pod had become stranded, but it had happened in the area before."The shallow shelving beach, the spit and the configuration of headlands seems to cause navigation problems for them. These conditions seem to trigger strandings," Walls told the Nelson Mail newspaper.

Golden Bay notorious for strandingsDec 21, 2005

Golden Bay is particularly notorious for pilot whale strandings and during the 1990s there was one nearly every year.The strandings always happen during the summer which is why whale experts call these months 'the silly season.'Over the years the beaches of Golden Bay have become a grave to hundreds of migrating whales and Auckland University biologist Dr Rochelle Constantine says the whales just mess up."They just misjudge the depth of the water and that's perhaps why often these strandings are in long shallow bays like in Golden Bay," says Constantine.Records as far back as the 1940s describe regular strandings of "black fish". In those days there was no urgent flurry to refloat them and they slowly rotted, causing a stench for months.In the past 20 years there have been 10 strandings at Golden Bay, with nearly 900 taking place in the 1990s. In 1990, 100 were stranded followed by 300 the following year.Most years more than half were refloated, but several hundred have died and been buried on the beaches were they died.Scientists don't know why whales strand, but there are plenty of theories. One of the most common surrounds the pod following a sick member."Often there's a sick individual in the group - usually a female - and the other animals are so bonded to that animal that they will follow her and not leave her while she's there," says Constantine.The problem with Golden Bay is that once refloated it's a difficult place for the whales to escape because of its shape.Farewell Spit blocks the route to the north and the shallow waters make whale sonar almost useless, which is why in the past many pilot whales have returned to the beaches after being refloated.

Source: One News

Volunteers refloat 115 stranded whales

Hundreds of volunteers have refloated more than 100 pilot whales stranded on a beach at the top of New Zealand's South Island.Conservation authorities are preparing to herd the mammals out to sea to keep them from returning.The volunteers, who include tourists, refloated the beached whales just before high tide around 2:00pm local time.That is about 24 hours after the whales became stranded on Puponga Beach, about 150 kilometres north-west of the city of Nelson."Once we've got them refloated, there'll be some boats used to try to herd them out to sea and that could go on for some hours," Department of Conservation spokeswoman Trish Grant said.Before the whales were refloated, they were washed with water to keep them cool and prevent their skin from drying out.Ms Grant says most of the estimated 115 long-finned pilot whales have headed out to sea.She says rescuers are considering using a helicopter to help prevent them from returning to the beach.The whales initially beached themselves over a wide area but moved together overnight as the sea came in."I think people feel a very strong connection with the whales and are quite touched by their plight," Ms Grant said."I think there's quite a buoyant mood because people were glad to be involved in trying to help rescue these whales."New Zealand, which has 41 whale species in its waters, has a high rate of strandings because of its long coastline and sometimes shallow waters.

- Reuters

Whales head back to sea

Dec 21, 2005

The whales that re-beached at the top of the South Island have headed back out to sea.Just hours after more than 100 whales were refloated in Golden Bay, about 50 returned to shore, but a further rescue effort means they are on their way out to open water once more.Craig Potton from the Forest and Bird Society was one of about 50 volunteer rescuers who formed a human chain to push the whales out so sea and says it has been exhausting but satisfying work.Potton says everyone hopes it is the last they will see of them.The Department of Conservation says it will closely monitor the situation.A total of 123 pilot whales beached themselves at 2pm on Tuesday along a kilometre stretch of the beach.Volunteers with wet sheets tried to keep the whales hydrated before being forced to abandon the rescue operation as the incoming tide and nightfall was deemed too dangerous.Some were expected to refloat themselves at high tide at 2am on Wednesday, but all of the whales stayed stranded on the beach.The volunteers returned on Wednesday morning again covering the whales with wet sheets and pouring buckets of water on them in a bid to keep them hydrated. Cloudy, drizzly weather helped the rescue mission.

At least 10 whales died overnight.

The remaining whales were herded out from Puponga Beach by hundreds of volunteers on Wednesday afternoon's high tide.It is not the first time whales have beached at farewell Spit. About 15 years ago 300 whales were refloated in the same area.

Whales stranded again in Golden BayPosted at 7:37pm on 21 Dec 2005

Some of the whales floated off Puponga Beach in Golden Bay after a massive rescue effort have beached themselves again.The Department of Conservation (DOC) says at least part of the 125 strong pod has returned to an area south of where they were stranded on Tuesday afternoon.DOC is now examining its options, including launching another rescue operation.Hundreds of volunteers herded the pilot whales from Puponga Beach at Farewell Spit at high tide on Wednesday.DOC worker, Andrew Baxter, says after the first massive rescue effort, the second stranding is extremely frustrating.He says if the whales in this latest stranding come from the same pod, some may be beyond help and may have to be put down.About 10 of the whales have died since stranding themselves on Tuesday.Rescuers were hoping for a repeat of a rescue mission about 15 years ago in the same area, in which 300 mammals were refloated.

Tired rescuers were tonight hoping a pod of pilot whales would swim peacefully out to sea and keep away from the beach after they had to hop back in the water and stop the whales from stranding for the second time in as many days.The 123 whales first beached at Puponga, in the South Island's Golden Bay, about midday yesterday and after a massive rescue operation, were refloated from about 2pm today.But just a few hours later, about 55 of the pod began getting into shallow water again about 1km south of the original stranding and 28 of them reached a point where they needed help again.

"We had people in the water and boats on the water and the people were able to refloat the whales – they were just beginning to get stuck on the bottom," Conservation Department (DOC) Golden Bay spokeswoman Trish Grant said."They were moving away but who knows what will happen from here on in."Ms Grant said everybody was hoping that they had seen the last of the whales on the beach."We think it was a fantastic result really that we were able to get to them in time before they had a chance to strand and get them moving, because they were really beginning to sink into the sand beneath."

She said the volunteers had accepted the whales re-stranding as it was common in such cases, although it was hard to know why.The beach would have to be cleared by dark tonight as it was too dangerous for people to stay and watch for the whales."There's a plane going up at first light and they'll scan the beaches and see if there's any sign of whales on the beaches – and we hope not."

About 15 of the pod had died by the time they were first refloated.

Some of the whales that survived had suffered scrapes and were not in very good condition after their ordeal, Ms Grant said.Earlier, the many rescuers had worked tirelessly keeping the whales damp with seawater and sheets before the tide was high enough to attempt the refloat.

Ms Grant said the whales had reacted well to the many volunteers and DOC staff taking care of them."They seem to accept it quite readily – you don't have any sense of agitation and certainly the people get very fond of the whales they are looking after and they become very concerned for them."There's an awful lot of emotion around it and heartfelt concern on the part of the people."Nelson publisher and Forest and Bird member Craig Potton was one of the rescuers.He was "ecstatic, euphoric" after seeing the whale he was helping swimming back out to sea.But despite the value of the experience, he was glad it was over."After a long period of time even with wetsuits on, it gets cold, even though it's summer and the water's warm," he told National Radio.When it came time to refloat, four people had all pushed and pushed the whale until it swam off in the right direction on its own."That's what's extraordinary about them. If you can imagine any large animal might object to that sort of behaviour but no, they're very gentle."He said they had nicknamed the whale they were helping Bono – as it was singing all the time.

Whales head back out to sea after second strandingPosted at 8:06pm on 21 Dec 2005

A pod of stranded whales, beached at the top of the South Island, are finally heading back out to sea.The pod of 125 whales were discovered stranded on Puponga Beach, Golden Bay on Tuesday afternoon. After a large rescue effort by 300 volunteers and Department of Conservation staff, the pod was refloated at high tide on Wednesday afternoon.However, by 5pm, 50 of the whales had returned to the shore, stranding themselves on the beach again.Craig Potton from the Forest and Bird Society was one of about 50 volunteer rescuers who formed a human chain to push the whales back out to sea. He says it has been exhausting, but satisfying work.The Department of Conservation says it will closely monitor the situation overnight.DOC worker, Andrew Baxter, says after the first massive rescue effort, the second stranding was extremely frustrating.Rescuers were hoping for a repeat of a rescue mission about 15 years ago in the same area, in which 300 mammals were refloated.

MORE than 100 pilot whales stranded on a beach at the top of New Zealand's South Island were refloated by volunteers yesterday and conservation officials in boats herded the mammals out to sea.Hundreds of volunteers, including tourists, refloated the beached whales about 24 hours after they were stranded.A handful of the whales tried to swim back and ground themselves again about three hours later, but rescuers formed a human chain to force them back into open water."This was certainly a lot easier than this morning's (rescue) because they hadn't completely grounded, although some of them had to be lifted across the mud," rescuer Craig Potton said."You grab it by the nose, just like elephants in Nepal, you manhandle them and push them."You just push like hell to make it go out, in the final analysis – you don't muck around."German backpacker Martin Huehmergarth said he was in a beach cafe looking at photographs of whale strandings when, minutes later, the whales were stuck on shore."We were up to our hips in the sea bailing buckets of water, doing it for real. It is so sad to see them all," he said.Japanese visitor Mieko Sato said she spent a couple of hours helping out, noting: "We want to do what we can."About 15 of the 115 long-finned pilot whales died on Puponga Beach, about 150km northwest of the city of Nelson.The whales initially beached over a wide area on Tuesday but grouped together overnight as the sea came in.They were washed with water to keep them cool and prevent their skin from drying.

Whales stranded without an answer 22 December 2005By ANNA CHALMERS

New Zealand has the highest rate of whale strandings and, as research advances, theories surrounding earthquake and sonar interference are gaining ground.Since records began over 165 years ago, more than 2500 strandings have been recorded in New Zealand, involving more than 15,000 whales or dolphins.International marine scientists believe there is a link between the use of high-intensity sound and recent mass strandings of whales and dolphins.Massey University marine mammal pathologist Padraig Duignan said it was possible earthquakes played a role."They (whales) are exquisitely sensitive to sound. Sound travels very fast in water and so you could have an earthquake somewhere distant, but the sound waves still get to animals here and maybe disorient them."There have been several earthquakes in central New Zealand this month, but no one is sure what led the 123 pilot whales to strand at Puponga, Farewell Spit, on Tuesday.Spots like Farewell Spit, Stewart Island and Mahia are "whale traps", with hooks of land jutting out to sea. The geography, combined with shallow waters, gently sloping beach and tidal action, meant shore-roaming pods were easily captured, said Project Jonah stranding rescue adviser Sheryl Gibney.Dr Duigna said a combination of factors was likely to be responsible. The pod could have been caught by a receding tide as it migrated south, or there could be a sick member, which led the others ashore."In a way they are very much like sheep. If one animal gets stuck they all stick around and respond to the distress call."Ms Gibney said when whales were refloated they were all oriented to face the sea. "Once they have all regained their balance they are released en masse and shepherded out to sea with boats."

Plane to check whereabouts of whalesDec 22, 2005

The Department of Conservation is checking that the whales floated off Golden Bay beaches on Wednesday, have not beached themselves again.More than 100 pilot whales were floated off Puponga beach on Wednesday afternoon; but about half the pod beached again further south two hours later.The pod of 125 whales was discovered stranded on Puponga Beach, Golden Bay at 2pm on Tuesday.After a large rescue effort by 300 volunteers and Department of Conservation staff, the pod was refloated at high tide on Wednesday afternoon.However by 5pm 50 of the whales had returned to the shore, stranding themselves on the beach again. Volunteers were able to quickly herd them back to deeper water.DOC says it can't be sure the whales won't beach again and has sent an aircraft to search the bay.

DoC plane to check whereabouts of whalesPosted at 7:33am on 22 Dec 2005

The Department of Conservation is today checking that the whales floated off a beach in Golden Bay yesterday, have not beached themselves againA plane was sent up this morning to look for any sign of the whales; but has not spotted any so far.A DOC spokesperson says the plane is still completing its flight, and there are no signs of any whales below.More than 100 pilot whales were floated off Puponga beach yesterday afternoon; but about half the pod beached again further south two hours later.The pod of 125 whales was discovered stranded on Puponga Beach, Golden Bay at 2pm on Tuesday. After a large rescue effort by 300 volunteers and Department of Conservation staff, the pod was refloated at high tide on Wednesday afternoon.However, by 5pm, 50 of the whales had returned to the shore, stranding themselves on the beach again. Volunteers were able to quickly herd them back to deeper water.DoC says it can't be sure the whales won't beach again.

DOC staff hope a pod of rescued whales has made its way safely to sea.The 108 surviving mammals were refloated by officials and volunteer's during Golden Bay's high tide yesterday afternoon. The pod initially turned back to shore and 28 whales became momentarily stranded, but the pod was heading back out to sea last night.DOC spokeswoman Trish Grant says a plane will scour the coast for any stranded whales this morning.Fifteen of the pilot whales which initially beached at Puponga on Wednesday, died on the shore.

No sign of whales22/12/2005 7:14:03

A sweep by plane of the Golden Bay area has shown no sign of the whales which were stranded at Pupongo yesterday.Conservation Department spokesman Harri Rautjoki says the plane went up at about 6am and searched much of the northern part of the region before heading out along to the bottom end of the spit. No whales were spotted.The plane will look over the area again later this morning.More than 120 whales stranded on the beach on Tuesday. At least 15 died.

Whales spotted back in shallow waters 22 December 2005

The pod of over 100 pilot whales refloated yesterday has been spotted back in shallow waters this morning near Pohara Beach on the eastern side of Golden Bay. They were seen by Department of Conservation (DOC) staff in an aircraft over Golden Bay beaches, scanning the area for any sign of the whales after they were refloated yesterday afternoon. The whales were refloated off Puponga Beach, with tired rescuers diverting the whales a second time after some of the pod began returning to shallow water. About 20 of the 124 which first beached at Golden Bay about midday Tuesday died. DOC spokeswoman Trish Grant said DOC staff were on their way to the beach in boats, in case they had to try and herd the whales back out to sea. Ms Grant said the whales were in no immediate danger as the tide was still going out. "But they're still in Golden Bay southeast of where they were yesterday, so there's a concern they will re-strand. "The crucial time will come this afternoon when the tide is coming in." The number of whales closest to the beach could not be confirmed. Pohara Beach was another shallow beach that would threaten the whales. DOC staff would monitor the situation from boats in the bay today. There has been no calls for volunteers, but Ms Grant said it could be possible. "The situation is obviously not over and done with. We would be grateful if people could be alert, and keep an ear out." DOC spokesman Martin Heine said a boat would continue to move alongside the pod, monitoring the direction of the whales. It was unfortunate, but sometimes it took several cycles of strandings for the situation to be resolved. "I hope this doesn't come to nothing. We are monitoring the situation closely," he told NZPA. It was not easy to herd the whales out to sea because there were so many of them. Mr Heine said DOC was "absolutely delighted" with the efforts of volunteer rescuers yesterday. More boats were being prepared, and some people had already been alerted to the change in situation, but there was no planned callout for assistance yet. High tide was expected at 2.45pm. The danger of stranding would occur about two hours afterwards, he said.

Refloated whales spotted22/12/2005 9:34:04

The pod of whales which was refloated yesterday has been spotted off Port Tarakohe south of Golden Bay.A Department of Conservation spokesman says the mammals are still swimming out into deep water and a boat monitor their travels later this morning.He says a resident at Parapara Beach on the western shoreline of Golden Bay has called saying some of the whales are off the coast. That sighting will also be checked out.

Golden Bay whale rescuers will find out today if their attempts to refloat a stranded pod of about 120 pilot whales have been successful. Rescuers at Puponga Beach, at the base of Farewell Spit, feared the worst last night when about 28 whales, which were refloated mid-afternoon, beached themselves again a kilometre down the beach. Department of Conservation (DOC) Golden Bay spokeswoman Trish Grant said 55 long-finned pilot whales got into shallow water about 4.30pm yesterday at the beach where the mammals were first stranded about 12.30pm on Tuesday. "About 28 got into difficulty in shallow water. They were starting to sink to the bottom, but people in the water managed to lift them up and get them moving again," she said. "We've been quite hopeful that they were all going to go safely out to sea and we didn't have to worry about them again. It is a bit gutting, really." Rescuers would not know if the whales were out of danger until this morning, she said. "We will put a plane up at first light to check to see whether there are any stranded whales in the morning." More than 200 volunteers had managed to refloat the whales at high tide about 2pm, Grant said. Puponga resident Lynne MaGuire said the mood yesterday morning was sombre when people saw the whales still stranded. "Everyone just knew there was a job to be done and they knew it was a long time before the tide was to come in," she said. "A lot of whales were on their side and needed attention. It was a lot of work. "It's quite a settlement atmosphere – a whole kind of community of people with the same agenda." While the mood lightened as the tide came in, it was the hardest point for MaGuire. "It was actually the most horrible, horrible thing because once they start to get water around them they start whistling and calling," she said. "Some of the babies were distressed and calling and calling. It was happening all through the day. That was the bit that got me. It's certainly been emotional." Many of the whales probably would not survive if they became stranded again, MaGuire said. "I don't like their chances, especially the big ones. A lot were having difficulty breathing and you could sense a heaviness of body as they were lying on the sand," she said. "I guess at the end of the day you do what you can do. It's a comfort to know I did the best I could." Fifteen whales have died so far. English backpacker Chris Pearce got more than he bargained for after commenting to friends three days ago that he hoped to see a whale. Pearce, who is staying in Takaka, spent the past two days with hundreds of other volunteers comforting the stranded whales. "I have never seen a whale before and I mentioned I hoped to see one. Then suddenly I got a call the following day. It was quite bizarre," he said. "It's just sort of something I have never done. You never believe you are going to be near something like that and you never believe you can help." After spending about four hours comforting the whales on Tuesday, it was upsetting to see the mammals still there yesterday morning. "It was quite emotional to think they all stick together when one is not right and they come to help," he said. "It's nice to know you have helped out. We just did as much as we could and when the whales headed out to sea, that was it really. I don't think you really take it in at the time; you just do what you have to do." Brent Hartshorne, of Takaka, said it had been a long couple of days. "It's a pretty big event for Golden Bay, with a lot of locals involved," he said. "It's a real kind of camaraderie, especially when you can see a positive outcome like we have. "A lot of locals were ecstatic to see them out to sea. "We're just hoping they don't beach again. It's very stressful for them being out of the water because they can't signal each other. The young and the old are the first ones to die." A staff member from the Farewell Spit Visitor Information Centre said the centre and cafe had been "flat out" over the two days with volunteers and DOC staff in the area. New Zealand visitors to the region, as well as German, English and Chinese tourists, had been helping the whales, she said.

Whales heading for high seas

Fears refloated whales at Golden Bay may head back to shore with next high tide

22 December 2005

There are fears the refloated whales at Golden Bay may head back to shore with the next high tide, but so far, they are still on track for freedom on the high seas.The 100-strong pod of pilot whales stranded at Puponga on Tuesday and were refloated yesterday afternoon.Earlier this morning there were fears the mammals were going to ground again, however DOC spokesman Greg Napp says at the moment the pod is about five kilometres off Tarakohe Harbour.He says they appear to be heading along the Abel Tasman coast, but he would prefer they were a further 10 kilometres toward the open sea.Mr Napp says staff are preparing for the high tide when the whales are in danger of heading in towards the shore.

A pod of pilot whales is heading steadily but slowly out of Golden Bay at the top of the South Island.The 100 or so whales were refloated from Puponga beach on Wednesday after being stranded for over 24 hours.The pod briefly threatened to beach itself again on Thursday morning at Pohara Beach - but DOC staff in boats herded them back into the bay.A DOC spokesperson says the whales were last sighted just after midday heading towards Separation Point and out of Golden Bay.Pod first came ashore on TuesdayMore than 100 pilot whales were floated off Puponga beach on Wednesday afternoon, but about half the pod beached again further south two hours later.The pod of 125 whales was discovered stranded on Puponga Beach, Golden Bay at 2pm on Tuesday. After a large rescue effort by 300 volunteers and Department of Conservation staff, the pod was refloated at high tide on Wednesday afternoon.However, by 5pm Wednesday, 50 whales had returned to the shore, stranding themselves on the beach again. Volunteers were able to quickly herd them back to deeper water.Altogether, 21 whales died during the incident. Department of Conservation community relations manager, Greg Napp, says samples will be sent to Massey University's whale study programme.Mr Napp said there is no way of knowing if there will be other strandings.

High rate of strandings in NZA previous stranding in Golden Bay occurred on November 4, 1994 at Farewell Spit. Some 47 whales were dead.According to DOC's website, New Zealand has one of the world's highest rates of whale strandings. Since 1840, more than 5,000 strandings of whales and dolphins have been recorded around the New Zealand coast.

A pod of more than 100 pilot whales, which were refloated after being stranded on a New Zealand beach earlier this week, have been seen heading back into shallow waters.The whales have been located by conservation department staff flying over Golden Bay at the top of New Zealand's South Island. Conservation department spokeswoman, Trish Grant, says staff are again being assembled in case they are needed to herd the whales back out to sea.

Volunteers bury 24 whales23 December 2005 By HELEN MURDOCH

Kaumatua Te Aroha (Losa) Holmwood prayed and cried as 24 of the pilot whales that stranded on Puponga beach were buried. The mass grave lies within sight and sound of the sea at the base of Farewell Spit, the notorious sandy arm which has trapped so many marine mammals in the past. But while the digger gently shifted the sand dune over the mammals' grave yesterday, 100-plus whales saved by a mass of volunteers swam powerfully out to sea. "The whales have feeling for each other, if one gets sick or hurt they follow it in to shore," said Holmwood. "Then all the people come out and nurse and bathe them so they can get back out to sea, but unfortunately these ones did not go back." The incoming tide lapping piles of excavated sand off Puponga beach, in a second rescue effort, was the only sign yesterday of this week's massive effort to save some 120 long-finned pilot whales which stranded high on the intertidal shore on Tuesday. Across from the beach, in the campground of Farewell Gardens Holiday Park, British visitor Kulbir Dhingra marvelled at his unexpected brush with the mammals. He and his family arrived to find Puponga packed with cars and people. "I've never experienced anything like it, we spent the whole day helping. They are very gentle and respond when you pour water over them," Dhingra said. "It was an amazing vibe and I felt like I was doing something useful and important. "And so many people came from so far away – the community effort was incredible." The family's decision to go to yesterday's burial was simple, he said. "We had to get closure on it." The Golden Bay Department of Conservation whale co-ordinator Simon Walls, meanwhile, looked exhausted, but happy so many whales could be saved. He has managed three major rescue operations in as many days. The main effort to refloat the stranded whales was a marathon effort, with 300-plus volunteers and DOC staff from as far away as Nelson working together and patiently waiting for the tide. People are the powerhouse of a refloating. We just co-ordinate things behind the scenes," Walls said. By 5pm they had got the whales bunched together in chest-deep water. Then they had to wait for the stressed mammals to recover enough to start swimming. "If you put your head under the water it was buzzing with whale communication," Walls said. "It seemed to take forever to rally and find a sense of direction, then they literally got into a formation, formed a line about a kilometre long and started to head out." Boats stayed with the pod until the wind raised the sea to a rough chop, then a splinter group of 50 curved back to shore, about 5km south of Puponga, he said. Volunteers who were still at hand moved rapidly to the new site and quickly turned the whales around, using belly slings and sheer muscle, herding them back out to sea. Early yesterday morning the whales were spotted by plane moving back towards shore, this time near the Rototai bar, on the southern side of Golden Bay. DOC workers moved quickly and stopped them and turned them in a metre of water before they beached. Dissection of the dead whales showed their stomachs were empty, said Walls. Walls said the stranding scenario could not have been much worse. The whales were very high on Puponga's long intertidal beach, inside the shelter of Puponga Point and the tides were very poor. The site of the stranding was a long way from urban populations of volunteers, he said. "Still we didn't lose any people and we didn't lose too many whales. It's better than the bad old days when stranded whales were just shot, or totally ignored."

Whales gone from Golden BayPosted at 10:14am on 23 Dec 2005

A pod of whales which beached themselves this week in Golden Bay appear to have left the area.More than 100 pilot whales were stranded on Puponga Beach for over 24 hours this week, prompting a massive rescue effort.21 whales died before the pod headed back out to sea.The Department of Conservation sent a plane over the area this morning, to patrol the beaches for sightings of the mammals.But a spokeswoman, Debbie Neale, says there was no sign of the whales in or around Golden Bay.The whales were first discovered stranded on Puponga Beach, Golden Bay about 2pm on Tuesday. They were refloated on Wednesday after being stranded for over 24 hours - but about half the pod beached again further south two hours later.The pod then briefly threatened to beach itself again on Thursday morning at Pohara Beach - but DOC staff in boats again herded them back into the bay.

Whales stay away for Christmas23/12/2005 13:18:02

A welcome early Christmas gift for Conservation Department staff in Golden Bay.A spotter plane sent up about 8am has not seen any sign of the 100-strong pod of pilot whales which stranded at Puponga earlier this week.DOC spokesman Greg Napp says the plane was up for about an hour checking the beaches from Separation Point round to Farewell Spit.He says it is a great relief for the staff who worked so hard to save the whales. He says they can now enjoy the Christmas break with a clear conscience.Twenty-five whales died over the 24-hour period that the pod was beached at Puponga.

High rate of strandings in NZA previous stranding in Golden Bay occurred on November 4, 1994 at Farewell Spit, in which 47 whales died.According to DOC's website, New Zealand has one of the world's highest rates of whale strandings. Since 1840, more than 5,000 strandings of whales and dolphins have been recorded around the New Zealand coast.

The Department of Conservation says four more pilot whales have died in the past few days from a pod which beached themselves in Golden Bay last week.DOC spokesman Hans Stoffregen says individual whales beached themselves at Pohara and Tata, and two more today at Farewell Spit.Three died on the beaches; one, at Pohara, had to be shot.DOC says about 28 whales have died since a pod of 125 whales became stranded at Puponga on December 20 for more than 24 hours. The majority were successfully refloated with the help of hundreds of volunteers.Mr Stoffregen says a large pod of whales has been reported off Wainui Bay in Golden Bay; but he's unsure whether this is the same group from a week ago.

The death toll from last week's Golden Bay whale stranding has increased.Around 125 Pilot whales beached at Puponga last week.About a hundred of them were re-floated.However some of the weaker ones appear to have separated from the group.An adult male had to be shot after being found at Pohara Beach three days ago, and a baby was found dead at Tata beach yesterday.Just today three more have been found at Farewell Spit.DOC spokesman Hans Stoffregen says the latest strandings are sad but need to be viewed in perspective.He says without the help of the public the numbers would be higher.